EM115 meter can't talk to battery

We currently have a 1.5kw solar system with FiT installed, since 2018. Yesterday, after months of waiting, we finally had an AC Coupled 5.2kWh battery system installed from GivEnergy (GEN2 battery / GEN1 3kw Inverter), which sits about 9-10 metres from our main fuse box on the outside of the house.

The problem that the engineer ran into, I think, is that the EM115 meter can't communicate with the battery (I assume this is some form of wireless) and thus the battery can't monitor / work because it can't read the input/output from the grid/solar.

Logically we could move the battery, at significant cost, to a new location but that would be directly above the mains gas system and is a highly exposed area (last resort, assuming you're even allowed to place one of these next to the mains gas?). But I just wondered is there any other solution, like some sort of range extender for the meter?

WinterMJ EM115 CT could be sited anywhere between the DNO fuse and your consumer unit. EM115 should be in an enclosed environment. They then need to run a shielded twisted pair data cable from the EM115 to the inverter. This data connection is the Modbus interface between the inverter and EM115. Typically cat5 Ethernet cable is used. The EM115 does need a 240V mains supply from your consumer unit or fused spur or something to power it and also to be able to work out whether current detected in the CT is import or export. The Ethernet cable can be pretty much any length up to 1000m so 15 or even 30m is fine. Has this technician installed one of these inverters before?

WinterMJ As Tim stated. The inverter should have a data cable that runs back to the EM115 meter. Communication is then handled through the RS485 Modbus interface. I have this. My inverter and battery are outside in the shed. Pretty simple and standard really. Personally, I'd be questioning why your installer did not know this. You certainly should not have to re-site the battery.

I hope you get sorted quickly.

Run cat5 or cat6 (better) from the EM115 data out to the inverter data in.
Mine is a few meters away and never had issues with cheap Cat5.

Use a single twisted pair, blue pair is ideal, higher twist rate.
On cat6 be good for 200m

If the installer has used a Lora (radio) system between the two ends instead of cables, there appear to be specific firmware versions which work and others which don't. The units also have problems talking through walls and large expanses of metal. oddly, they also need wiring up correctly 🤣 . I now poses a pair of unused and unwanted Lora units as a result of these factors.

mrand31 If the installer has used a Lora (radio) system

He may have done, but tie-wrapping a (STP) cat5/6 to the 204V cable between inverter and consumer unit would save the cost of LORA and make the Modbus connection more reliable.

Tim hence why I've now got a spare pair. In my installation they were marginal even after I'd corrected the installation errors.

All fixed now. The engineers were using my install for training, so we've all learnt a few things 🙂

My CU is in the house, the AC3.0 and batteries in the garage which is as eparate building, albeit adjacent to the house.. The installer had to use a "special" EM115 meter to allow for the extended twisted pair run.

The original EM115 meter simply did not work and gave spurios readings. The second one fixed all that.

wilfleek any idea what the special one was?

TheDragon (GivEnergy) any idea what the special one was?

I suspect it was one that worked. My installer put two in and connected them to each inverter over Cat 5. One worked and the other didn't. He swapped out the second one the next day and all has been fine since.

TheDragon (GivEnergy) I took a look at it, can't see anything "special" about it, at least not on the faceplate.

Maybe it was "special" because, as Tim siad, it actually was one that worked?